Post Falls has a new wildland fire resource with Wildfire Defense Systems opening its doors recently. 

“It’s about reducing the impact a wildfire has. We basically help insurance policyholders adapt to a wildfire until we can solve the problem,” David Torgerson said Tuesday during the company’s open house at its new Lochsa Street building. 

Founders Torgerson and Nicole Barlow began the company in 2001 to provide supplemental assistance to the U.S. Forest Service during wildfires.

The Post Falls location will serve as a fleet management location and service fire vehicles and employ more than 50 staff members. Adding a North Idaho facility also means added space to build out enhancements for fire vehicles.

“Climate change is a changing paradigm, so wildfires are getting tougher with more risk, and they cause more damage, and it’s an active fire area, always has been,” Torgerson said.

Wildfire Defense operates in 22 states and employs wildland firefighters about nine months out of the year. 

“We started in a little cabin in the woods,” Barlow said.   

Wildland firefighters will operate out of the Post Falls site as well as travel as needed to do loss prevention. 

    Wildfire Defense Systems has a new location in Post Falls and can add equipment built at the facility to enhance fire vehicles used in combatting wildland fires.
  

    A wall of wildland firefighting equipment lines the retail portion of the Post Falls location for Wildfire Defense Systems.